Automatic cycling system for pin setting machines



July 20, 1965 w. J. HILDEBRANT ETAL 3,195,892

AUTOMATIC CYCLING SYSTEM FOR PIN SETTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 29, 1962 I'll! III! I :llllllma lllIlllllIlllllllIlE INVENTORS WILLIAM J. HILDEBRANT VNCENT A. MALATESTA JM, 0% M W momzys J y 1965' w. J. HILDEBRANT ETAL 3,

AUTOMATIC CYCLING SYSTEM FOR PIN SETTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 20, 1965 w. J. HILDEBRANT ETAL 3, 5,

AUTOMATIC CYCLING SYSTEM FOR PIN SETTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 80

L54 v glmvous S C DISTRIBUTOR TABLE LS@/ m C CR lb u LS-5 40 W J CRlc? 's/ Pc CRI RESET SWEEP BLADE 1 QVLS lib c July 20, 1965 w. J. HILDEBRANT ETAL 3,

AUTOMATIC CYCLING SYSTEM FOR PIN SETTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1962 4 Shee ts-Sheet 4 FlG.8b

+ 150 VGJS p r smRE United States Patent 3,195,892 AUTOMATIC CYCLING SYSTEM FOR PIN SETTING MACHINES William J. Hildehrant, Weatogue, and Vincent A. Maintesta, Ellington, Conn, assignors to Connecticut Technical Corporation, Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed June 29, 1962, Ser. No. 206,231 14 Claims. (Cl. 273-433) This invention relates to pin setting machines for bowling alleys, and deals more particularly with a novel control means for such machines for causing the same to operate automatically in response to the throw of a ball and other events normally occurring in the game.

Various features of the present invention may be applied to various different types of pin setting machines, including machines for setting ten pins, and there is no intention to limit the various features of the invention to use with any particular type of pin setter. In the specification which follows, however, the invention has been shown and described in connection with a particular mechanism for setting duckpins or other type of pins for a game involving the possible throw of three balls in each frame, and various more specific features of the invention are concerned with such machines.

In any pin setting machine the two basic operations performed are a deadwood operation and a resetting operation. The deadwood operation is generally performed after the throw of a ball, other than the last ball of a frame, which leaves standing one or more of the pins, and consists of picking up the standing pins, sweeping the deadwood from the pin deck and into the pit, and thereafter respotting the standing pins for the next ball. The resetting operation is generally performed after the throw of the last ball of a frame and consists of sweeping both deadwood and standing pins, if any, from the pin deck and thereafter spotting a new set of ten pins on the pin deck in the standard triangular array. In previous duckpin setting machines or other setting machines involving the possible throw of three balls in one frame, the control of the machine has generally been effected manually by means of reset and deadwood push buttons located conveniently at the head of the alley and operable by the player or scorekeeper to cause the machine to perform the reset or deadwood operations as desired. Some machines have been made semi-automatic insofar as they automatically reset after the throw of a third ball in a frame, but for various reasons no completely acceptable machine has been made which is entirely independent of manual or pushbutton operation and which will automatically perform a deadwood operation after a first or second ball which leaves standing one or more pins and which will automatically perform a reset operation after a strike or spare situation.

The general object of this invention is therefore to provide a control system for use with a bowling pin setting machine for causing the machine to automatically perform deadwood and reset operations at the required times in response to the throw of a ball and other events of the game. In keeping with this object it is a further object to provide such a control system which is applicable to various different types and constructions of machines and which may be included as part of the original equipment of new machines or added to existing manual or semi-automatic machines, with little or no modification of the machines, to convert such machines to fully automatic operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic cycling system for a pin setting machine which cycling system is relatively inexpensive to manufacture ice and apply to a pin setting machine and which is extremely reliable in its operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cycling system for a duckpin setting machine which system operates in conjunction with the machine to cause the same to automatically spot a new set of ten pins after a strike or spare and to provide a visual or other indication of the strike or spare.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cycling system of the character mentioned in the last paragraph including means for detecting the commission of a foul and for using information in the form of electrical signals from the foul detecting means to control the ball count, the deadwood and reset operations and a foul indicator in the proper manner.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for sensing the approach or passage of a ball toward or through the pin deck and to deliver an electrical signal indicating the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for use with a pin setting machine and including means for giving a visual or other indication of the number of balls which have been thrown in the present frame.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the drawings forming a part hereof:

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the in vention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a pin setting machine to which an automatic cycling system embodying this invention is applied and which view shows only the basic elements of the machine, detailed parts having been omitted for clarity.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 1 and which view shows the location of the pin sensing switches relative to the spotted pins, the distributor table, the pin setting table and other parts shown in FIG. 1 being omitted for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the pin table and shows the structure of the cam means for opening the gripper bars as the distributor table moves forward.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the arrangement of two limit switches associated with the distributor table.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the arrangement of two limit switches associated with the sweep blade drive shaft.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the arrangement of four limit switches associated with the drive shaft for moving the distributor table between its forward and rearward positions.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the arrangement of four limit switches associated with the drive shaft for the pin table.

FIGS. 8a and 8b taken together constitute one figure illustrating the wiring diagram of an automatic cycling system embodying the present invention and incorporated in the pin setting machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Section AGeneral organization of pin setting machine For the purpose of illustration an automatic cycling system embodying the present invention is shown herein as applied to a bowling pin setting machine such as shown in Patent No. 2,920,891 issued'January 12, 1960,

and although various parts of said machine are described herein in general terms, reference is made to said patent for a more'detailed' description of-themachineu'in the a presently illustrated and described pinsetting machine,

respectively in response .to energization and de-energization of associated solenoid coils.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrate'clpinsetting machine islocated at. the tail end of anassociated alley and the major parts thereof are. disposed above the pindeck 26 and pit 22 in the usual manner; The various basic components of the machine are carried by a framework 24 and comprise a distributor table 26, a pin table.-

' Also included in the pin. setting machine, but'not shown, are conveyor and elevator means for moving pins carried by brackets 44,. 44 which arezpivotally connected to .theframeworkofthe pin table by associated-transverse rods 46, 46. By movement about the axes of the associatedrods 46, 46 the two gripper bars 42, 42 of each ,pair are'rnovable toward and away from each other between relatively closed and relatively open positions. By

a suitable linkage the four pairs of gripper bars are connected together so th'at all four pairs are opened and closed in unison. In' FIG. 3 the solid line showing of the pin table illustrates the gripper bars 42, 42 in their rela- .tively open positions- At these positions the bars of each and balls from thepit and gutters and for elevatingthe same above the level of-the alley. The ballsa'fter' being elevated are, transferred to a ball guide or-chute forreturn to the'head of the-alley. The elevated pins are transferred by suitable means to a loading statio'n above pair are spaced far enough apart as to fit over the head of a pin on the pin deck. When the pin table is moved down towardthe pin. deck 20, and. after the gripper bars 42, 42.have.passed;over. the heads of the standing pins, a suitable'actuating means in the .pin table moves the gripper bars 42,,42 to their closed positions, as shown by the broken line illustration," .wh'ere'at the bars grip the necks of the standing pins.= The pin table may now be lifted from its lowered position and in so: doing. the gripper bars 42,42 will'lift the standingpins from the pin deck toiallow movement of the sweep blade over the pin deck to remove any deadwood therefrom. After the sweepblade completes its motion over the pin deck,

a the distributor table and fromthe loading. station are fed one by one to the distributor table which includes a set 7 often pinlreceiving cups 3 34 thatare movedin succession past the loading station.. Thedistributor'table is movable in'a horizontal plane longitudinally of the alley between pin receivin'g and pin discharging positions.- FIG. 1 shows it in its'rearwardor pin'receiving position,"

shaft -48 corresponds to .one complete cycle of moveshown in FIG. 1 it receives pins from the associated pin elevating means until all of its ten cups 34,34- arev driven located between the driven and driving-shafts 36 and 38 and operable tobring thedriving shaft into and out of driving relationship with the driven shaft. The operation: of the'drive mechanism is suchthat one cornpleterotation of -the driven-shaft 36 corresponds to a complete cycle of movement of the distributortableg That is,-

t hrough'out one complete movement ofxthe drivenshaft 36 the distributor table is first moved forwardly from its rearward positionto its forward position and is thereafter rearward position; i

moved rearwardly. from its forward position to 'its initial As mentioned above, the cups 3 -4, 34 are movable rela tive to the framework of'the distributor table and when being filled are moved in succession past a fixed loading station.--Thismovement of the cups 34,-34 is accomplished by a drive shaft which engages the distributor table whenthe table is in a rearward position'and which is rotated through an electrically operated clutch. After all ten cups are filled the clutch is tie-energized to stop further-movement of thecups relative to the distributor table and :loading station. Y I t The pin. table 28 serves to lift standing pinsfrorn the pin deck during a deadwood operation. In FIG. 2' the pin table is'shown in its rest position and itis movable from such rest position to a lowered position close to the pin deck 30; Included in the pin table 28 are four pairs of gripper bars 42, 42 which extend transversely of the associated alley. The two gripper bars of each pair are thepin table is again lowered andfas the pins carried by the pin table engage the pin deck. the gripper bars 42, 42 are again moved by the actuating means tolth'eir open positions so that the pin'table may now be raised to its rest position leaving the previously lifted pins spotted in their original positions on the pin'deck.

. The pintable is driven in this vertical mover'nent by I a suitable drive means which, as shown in.FIG.;7, in-

cludes a driven shaft 43,11 driving shaft 56 and an electrically operated clutch 52 located between the driving and driven- 'shaft. Gne. complete rotation of the driven ment of the pin table 23. The arrow in FIG. 7 represents the direction in which the driven shaft 48 isdriven by the drive shaft 5!) and for convenience this direction is considered to be the forward direction. When the pin table is in its rest position asshown inFIG, 2 it is 10-. cated slightly below its uppermost'positionand it is held in this position and against retrograde or reverse downward movement and against the force of gravity and an associated spring, by an associated latch mechanism, not shown. The 'pin table therefore may be lowered from its rest position by either releasing-the latch and allowing the'table to drop under this influence of gravity and theassociated spring, in'which case the, driven shaft 43 rotates freely in reverse direction, orby energizing the clutch 52 so that the driving shaft 50 rotates the driven shaft 43 inthe forward directionand in which case the pin table is first raised slightly from its. rest position to its uppermost position and then driven downwardly from its uppermost position to the pin deck.

force of gravity and the associated spring toward the ,pin table 28.

position and the drive shaft 48 is continued in its rota tion so that the pin table after passing its uppermost position is lowered toward the pin deck. When the pins reach the pin deck the gripper bars are opened to release and spot the pins on the pin deck, and the pin table is thereafter returned empty to its rest position for subsequent use in a following deadwood or reset operation.

Associated with the pin setting machine and forming a part of the cycling system of the present invention is a pin sense switch assembly 54 which is fixed to the framework 24 of the pin setting mechanism above the Included in the switch assembly 54 is a group of ten switches 56, 56 having operating levers 58, 58 arranged to respectively engage the heads of the various pins carried by the pin table when the pin table is in or near its uppermost position. This is shown, for example, in FIG. 2 from which it will be noted that for each pin position there corresponds a separate switch operating lever 58 so that if any one pin is lifted by the pin table the associated operating lever 58 will be moved by the pin to actuate the associated switch 56 when the pin table reaches or nears its raised position.

The pin setting machine is located behind a mask or wall 60 and located on the forward side of the mask are three lamps 62, 62 operated by the cycling system of this invention to provide a visual indication of the ball count. Also included as part of the cycling system, and hereinafter described in more detail, is a means for detecting the passage of a ball towards the pin deck. In the present instance this means comprises a light source 64 located on one side of the alley and a photocell unit 66 located on the other side of the alley and arranged to rereceive a beam of light 68 from the light source. The light source 64 and the photocell unit 66 are so arranged that the light beam 68 will be broken to operate the detecting means by a ball passing down the alley or down either one of the two gutters 32, 32.

Without the automatic cycling means of the present invention, and as shown by the above mentioned patent, the pin setting machine may be operated manually by means of reset and deadwood pushbuttons located at the head of the alley. Pushing the reset pushbutton causes the machine to perform a reset operation and pushing the deadwood pushbutton causes the machine to perform a deadwood operation. In the normal reset operation, as performed for example in response to pushing the reset pushbutton, the sweep blade 39 is moved across the pin deck to remove therefrom any dead or standing pins. At the same time, the distributor table 26 is moved forwardly and the pin table 28 is lowered onto the distributor table to receive a new set of pins. The pin table is then raised from the distributor table and the distributor table returned to a rearward position. Thereafter the pin table is lowered to the pin deck to spot the new set of pins thereon and is then returned to its rest position. During a normal deadwood operation, as performed for example in response to pushing the deadwood pushbutton, the distributor table remains stationary and the pin table 28 is lowered to grasp and lift from the pin deck the standing pins. The sweep blade 30 is then operated to remove any deadwood from the pin deck and after the blade moves from the pin deck the pin table is again lowered to respot the standing pins on the pin deck.

I deadwood operation in response to the passage of a first or second ball through the pin deck. After a first or second ball passes through the pin deck the pin table 28 moves downwardly to grasp and lift any standing pins from the pin deck and as it returns from its lowered position the appropriate operating lever or levers 58, 58 of the pin sense switch assembly 54 engage the heads of the pin or pins, if any, carried by the pin table. If these operating levers sense the presence of one or more pins in the pin table, as a result of one or more switches being operated, the pin setting mechanism is permitted to complete a normal deadwood cycle with the pins in the pin table being respotted on the pin deck after the sweep blade 30 completes its sweeping operation. On the other hand, if the pin sense switch assembly determines that no pins are in the pin table, as a result of none of the switches being operated, the pin setting machine is commanded at that point to spot a new set of pins on the pin deck.

Each time the pin table is lowered onto the pin deck or distributor table the associated gripper bar actuating mechanism changes the state of the gripper bars. That is, the gripper bars are moved either from their open to their closed positions or from their closed to their open positions. At the start of a deadwood operation the gripper bars are in an open condition and therefore when the pin sense switch assembly makes its determination that no pins are in the pin table the gripper bars are closed as a result of the pin table having been first lowered to and raised from the pin deck. Therefore, in order that the pin table may be used to reset a new set of pins the gripper bars must be returned to their open condition. To provide for this opening of the gripper bars one of the transverse rods 46, 46 as shown in FIG. 3 has-associated therewith a bar 70 which is fixed to the rod by a suitable means such as a U-bolt 72. The bar 70 engages the associated gripper bar 42 so as the bar 70 is rotated in the clockwise direction about the axis of the rod 46 the gripper bar 42 is moved from its closed position as indicated by the solid lines to its open posi tion as indicated by the broken lines. All of the gripper bars 42, 42 move in unison and therefore movement of the illustrated gripper bar to its open position corresponds to movement of all of the gripper bars to their open positions. Associated with the bar 70 is an arm 74 which is pivotally connected to the rod '70 as at 76 and which normally hangs downwardly from the bar 70 with its upper edge 78 in engagement with the associated transverse rod 46. On the lower end of the arm 74 is a roller 80 which cooperates with a cam 82 mounted on the distributor table 26. As the distributor tables moves forwardly the inclined surface 84 of the cam 82 engages the roller 80 and moves the same to cause the gripper bar 42 to be moved to its open position. After the gripper bar is opened the cam 82 passes forwardly beyond the arm '74. In the return movement of the distributor table the arm 74 pivots freely about the pivot point 76 to the position shown by the broken lines in FIG. 3 to permit passage of the cam 84 without returning the gripper bars to their closed positions.

Section B-General organization of automatic Cycling system The wiring diagram of the automatic cycling system embodying the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b, which figures should be placed side by side to provide one single composite illustration. The portion of the wiring diagram shown in FIG. 8b relates solely to the automatic cycling system and the portion of the wiring diagram shown in FIG. 8a includes limit switches, clutches and the like which are or may be part of a manually oper ated pin setting machine. FIG. 8a also includes other parts which form part of the automatic cycling system and which cooperate with said limit switches, clutches and the like of the pin setting machine to provide the automatic operation desired.

Referring first to FIG. 8a, the designation LS has been given to limit switches contained in the pin setting machine and which limit switches provide the automatic cycling system with information: concerning the condigreases tion of the machine at any particular moment. In this figureLS-S and L's- 4 are limit switches which are associated with the distributor table and which areoperated when the distributor table becomes completely filled with ten pins. Referring tov FIG. 4, thetwo switches LS4 and LS5 are operated respectively by two earns 85 and 8S fixed to a rotatable shaft 99 which is biased by a spring, not shown, to the illustrated position. Fixed to one end of the shaft 90 is a finger 92 which extends into the path of pins carried by the cups of the distributor table. The shaft 96 and finger 92 are so located on the distributor table that assoon as the tenth'and last cup of the dis tributor table is filled with a pin such cup is'moved toward the driven. shaft. 98' of the s'jweepblade drive mechanism,

As the sweep blade shaft, 98 rotates, the switches 18-8 and LS13 are therefore operated by the cams to provide an indication of the position of the sweep blade. Also included in the sweep blade drive means is a driven shaft 113%) and an electrically operated clutch 102' located between the driving and driven shafts. As shownlin FIG. 6 the limit switches LS-11, LS-14, LS-3 and LS-6 are operated by cams 1G4, 106, 103 and 110 fixed to the driven shaft '36 of the drive means for moving the distributor table between its rearward and fo'rwardpositions. These,

limit switches therefore provide an indication of the positien of the. distributor table. As shown in'FIG. 7 the limit instance this counting mechanism comprises a stepping switch having an operating coil S and a group of step terminals S S S and S which are engageable. in succession by'a wiper 130. The terminal Si, constitutes the home terminal of the stepping switch and the terrninals S S and S constitu te. three active terminals which are engaged by the wiper 130 to produce signals indicative of the ballcount. The wiper 130 is moved from one step terminal to the next in response to the energization and switches. LS-10, LS7, LS15, LS12 and'LS9 are ope'rated by c-arns 112, 114,116,118, and 120. fixed. to the n driven shaft 48 of the pin table drive means and therefore provide for an indication of the posit-ion ofthe pin table.

The various electrically operated clutches associated with the sweep blade,.the distributor table'and the pin table are illustrated at 102, and 52 in FIG. 8a.; The clutch'illustrated at 122 is also associated with the (118-- tributor table and serves when energized to drive the pin cups 34, 34 past the loading station. Included in the automatic cycling system is a means for detecting the passageof a ball toward or through the pin deck and for producing an electrical signal in response to such'passage. be employed, but inthe presentinstance the means em-, ployed, as shown by FIG- 8b, includesthelight source .64 which may be a lamp energized by six volts AC. and

which, as shown in FIGQZ, is located on one side of the alley some distance forwardly of the pin deck. The light source '64 emits a beam of lightwhich extends across the alley and strikes a photosensitive cell or other photosensitive device 66. The device 66 isconnected between'the base and'the emitter terminals of a transistor 124 which has its collector terminal connected as shown with the grid of a thyratron tube 126. When a ball passes through.

the light beam it reduces the voltage appearing across the terminals of the photosensitivedevice. 66 and thereby reduces the collector current of the transistor. This reduction of the collector current, in turn, causes the grid of the thyrathon to rise toward a positive voltage. The re sistor 12S prevents the grid voltage from rising much. above zero volts as grid voltage is drawn, However, be- 7 fore this value isreached the cathode-to-grid voltage of the thyratron passes through zero, the gas in the tube ionizes, and conduction through the tube begins. conduction of the thyratron does not cease untilthe' plate This Various different detecting means may de-energizati-on of the stepping switch coil S, andthe switch is of the back-acting type whereby the wiper 130 is not movecl from one step terminal to the next until the coil is tie-energized. Also associated with the stepping switch are 'a set of off-normal contacts S and S and a set of interrupter contacts-S and 'S When the stepping switch is in'its home position the contacts 8., and S are in the positions illustrated in FIG. 8b and; when the stepping switch coilis de-energized the interrupter contacts S and S are'in the positions shown in FIG. 8b.

Secti0n-C.Manual deadwood operation without 7 automatic cycling system a ofthe system are in the positions shown in FIGS. 8a and tlbwhen' the. pin setting machine is at rest and ready for its next commanded operation. Atthis time the distributor table is in its rearward position and has its cups 34, 34 not'entirely'filled with pins, tlie p'in table is in'its elevated rest.position, .and the sweep blade is positioned alongside the gutter as shown in'FIGS. 1 and 2. Also at this time the'various drive shafts and cams associated with the distributortable, pin. table and sweep blade are in the relat ve positions shown in FIGS..4, 5, 6 and 7. p With theswitch 136 in the off position a deadwood operation is initiated by pushing the. deadwood pushbutton 134. This energizes the .coil of relay CR-Z through the closed contacts L3- 7b,LS-'9 and CR-1a and operates the associated contacts CR-Z a, CR -2b and CR-Zc. This energlzation of CR, 2 therefore inturn' closes aholding circuit to the latter relay through contacts P LS-8, and

7 bars 42,.42fa1fein their open positions.

circuit is opened. The thyratron therefore in essence, V

system is a 1 player in one frame and for producing an electrical output signal indicative of the ball count. In the present .CR-Za and also energizes the. coil of relay CR-3 through the contacts CR2b. The energization of relay CR-3 in turn closes the contactsCRia' tocornpletei a holding circurt to the relay CR-S through LS-lt), to hold CR-3 energizedafter the relayCR-Z, is released. Energization of CR-3 also closes contacts CR lb and thereby energizes the pin table drive clutch 52 so that the pin table is set n motion. At the beginning of this motion the pin table is in'rts rest position empty. of pins and the pin gripping V 7 It will also be noted that when the relay CR-2 is energized a. warning lamp will also be energizedtoprovide an indication that thesettin machine is in operation and that no ball should be thrown.

As the pin' table starts in its movement the limit switch LS-10 is opened momentarily by'the cam 112 but this has no effect due to the closed condition of CR-2b. When the pin table reaches or nears its lowermost position the limit switch'LS'15 is operated by the earn 116 closing .cohtactsLS-iSa and opening contacts LS15b. The closmg of the contacts LS-15a energizes the sweep blade drive clutch 102 and sets the sweeper blade in motion. Then asthe. sweep blade starts in itsrnotion the limit switch LS13 is operated by the cam 96 and this maintarns the sweep blade drive clutch 1.02 energizedafter LS-15 is released-by further'movement of the pintable. ,Asthei sweep blade-beginsits sweeping motion the pin table alsori'ses from the pin deck. Near the uppermost position of the pin table the limit switch LS-lt) is again momentarily operated, but at this time the sweep blade has not yet completed its sweeping motion and the contacts CR-Zb are therefore still closed with the result that the clutch 52 remains energized through the contacts CR-Zb and the pin table starts down again. Also at or near the uppermost position of the pin table the heads of the lifted pins are brought into engagement with the corresponding pin sense switch operating levers 58, 58 and one or more of the pin sense switches 56, 56, depending on the number of lifted pins, are closed. Also associated with the pin table is a pin table switch 138 which is arranged for operation in response to movement of the table to its uppermost position and after the operation, if any, of the pin sense switches 56, 56. In this manual cycle, however, the switches 56, 56 and 138 have no effect on the operation of the pin setting machine.

The sweep blade moves from the pin deck shortly before the pin table reaches its lowermost position and as the pin table does reach this position the gripper bars are operated by the associated actuating mechanism so as to be returned to their open positions, thereby releasing the pins for placement on the pin deck. At this time the limit switch LSlS is again operated but this does not start a new sweep blade cycle since the sweep blade is still in motion from previous closing of LSlS and the clutch 102 is at this time energized through the closed contacts LS-13b.

After the pins are respotted on the pin deck by the opening of the gripper bars, the pin table starts to rise again and as it rises the sweep blade completes its motion. As the sweep blade nears the end of its motion the cam 94 operates the limit switch LSS momentarily and thereby breaks the holding circuit to the relay CR-2 and releases the latter. This also extinguishes the warning lamp 40. At the end of its sweeping motion the limit switch LS13 is returned to its initial state by the cam LS-l3 which de-energizes the sweep blade drive clutch 1tl2 and stops further movement of the sweep blade.

When the pin table reaches its uppermost position the limit switch LS-ltl is again operated and, since the contacts CR-2b are now open as a result of the de-energization of relay CR-2, CR3 is de-energized and this in turn causes the de-energization of the pin table clutch 52 and stops further movement of the pin table just before the pin table reaches its uppermost position. The pin table thereafter settles downwardly slightly to its rest position in which position it is held by the associated latch mechanism.

Section D-Mrmual reset operation withoul automatic cycling system A reset cycle with the automatic cycling system switch 136 turned off is initiated by pushing the reset pushbutton 132. This, it will be noted energizes the coil of the relay CR1 through the closed contacts LS-7b, LS9 and CR-Zc. At the same time as the relay CR-l is operated the warning lamp 140 is also energized to indicate that the pin setting mechanism is in operation and that no ball should be thrown for the time being. Operation of the relay CR4. closes contacts CR-1c which completes a holding circuit to the coil of CR-l through LSS and P If at this time the cups 34, 34 of the distributor table are not already full of pins the pin cup clutch 122 is energized to move the cups 34, 34 past the loading station for the purpose of receiving pins. When the distributor table does become filled with pins the shaft 90 is moved by the finger 92 so that the limit switch LS4 is opened by the cam 86 to de-energize the clutch 122 and the limit switch LSS is closed by the cam 88.

Closing of the limit switch LSS completes a circuit through the now closed contacts CR1b to energize the distributor table clutch 40. Energization of this clutch starts the distributor table moving forwardly and as this occurs the limit switch LS3 opens followed by a later closing of the limit switch LS4 as the finger 92 moves out of engagement with the number ten pin as a result of the distributor table movement. This has no effect on the system other than the fact that the prior opening of the limit switch LS3 prevents energization of the pin cup clutch 122 as a result of the closing of the limit switch LS4.

As the distributor table moves forwardly LS6 is also closed and shortly thereafter LS-S is opened. The closing of LS-6 maintains encrgization of the distributor table clutch 40 despite the subsequent opening of the limit switch LSS. As the distributor table reaches its forwardmost position LS14 is closed by the cam 106 to energize the sweep blade drive clutch 102, and after the sweep blade starts to move the limit switch LS-13 is operated to maintain energization of the clutch 102 after the subsequent reopening of the limit switch LS14 as the distributor table moves rearwardly. At the end of the sweep blade motion LS13 shifts back to its initial state and the sweep blade drive is stopped.

As the distributor table reaches its forward position underneath the pin table the limit switch LS-6 is again opened by the cam 110 and this opens the circuit to the distributor table drive clutch 40 and to stop the distributor table at such forward position. At the same time the movement of the distributor table to its forward position mechanically releases the latch on the pin table and allows the same to drop by gravity and spring force onto the distributor table with the shaft 48 rotating in the reverse direction. When the pin table reaches the dis tributor table the gripper bars pass over the heads of the pins in the latter table and are closed relative to one another so as to be brought into gripping relationship with the pins. As mentioned, when the pin table does drop towards the distributor table the drive shaft 48 is rotated in the reverse direction and this causes the limit switches LS9 and LS12 to change state. Closing the limit switch LS-12 energizes the relay CR-3 and through the associated contact CR3b this energizes the pin table drive clutch 4! The opening of the limit switch LS-9 prevents the initiation of a new deadwood or reset cycle While the pin table is in motion. The pin table rises again, because of the energization of the clutch 40, and lifts the new set of pins with it. Energization of the relay CR-3 also closes contacts CR-3a which completes a holding circuit through LS10 to maintain the pin table drive clutch energized to raise the pin table. As the pin table near its uppermost position LS7 is momentarily operated and closes a circuit through CR1b to energize the distributor table clutch 4t) and thereby initiate rearward movement of the distributor table. As the latter does move rearwardly LS-6 is again closed to maintain the energization of the clutch 40 for the full extent of the rearward motion. When the distributor table does reach the rearward limit of its motion LS-6 is again operated to de-energize the clutch 40.

Also as the pin table nears its uppermost position LS10 is opened so that the drive clutch 52 is de-energized to prevent further movement of the pin table until the distributor table nears its full rearward position. As the distributor table does near its full rearward position the limit switch LS-ll is operated momentarily and this operates the pin table clutch 52 until the limit switch LS10 is again closed. When the limit switch 18-10 is closed the holding circuit for the relay coil CR-3 is again established and the pin table continues moving downwardly past the level of the distributor table which is now retracted. When the pin table strikes or nears the pin deck the gripper bars are opened by the associated actuating mechanism to release the pins for replacement on the pin deck. The timing is such that at this time the sweep blade is removed from the pin deck area so as not to interfere with the spotting of the pins on the pin deck, but is also 11- not yetcompletely returned to the end position of its movement. Therefore, as the pin table reaches itslowermost position, it operates the limit switch LS-15 momen-, tarily but this has noefiect since the sweep blade is still in motion and the limit switch LS-lS is therefore; still operated. i

is slower operating thanthe relay X, Thereforethe relay The pin table rises from the pin deck, due to the closed condition of the switch L840 and the', contact CR-3a,

empty of pinsand When'it nears its uppermost position a it first closes and then opens the limit switch LS-12 to no effect. The limit switch LS-ll is now open due to the distributor table'being in its full rearward position. Just before it reaches its uppermost position the limit switch 7 LS-10 is opened and thisde-energizes the relay CR-3 and consequently de-energizes the pin table drive clutch 52. Thereafter, the pin table settles back to its rest posit tion and the associated latch engages the sameto hold it in its rest position against the forceof gravity and the associatedspring, Now as the sweep blade" nears the end position it'momentarily ,opens LS-S which releases CR4. Shortly thereafter LS-13 is operated to reopen.

LS-13b and stop the sweep blade motion.

Section E-,-Manual deadwood operation;

with automatic cycling system 7 'Y operates some time after relay X. Operation of relay Y opens conta'cts'Y to break the circuit to relay X and after some delay relay X thereafterreleases, After relay X releases contacts X close and thereby complete a restore circuit'to the stepping switch ,coil Sthrough the contacts Z;,, the interruptercontacts S and the OE normal contacts S The stepping switch is therefore operated to step the wiper 130'to the-home or S terminal and when the wiper does reach the home position the off normal'contacts S are opened thereby opening the holding circuit to relays Z and Y and'releasing the latter. After this occurs relays X, Y and Z are all in their'initial unoperated condition and. the stepping switch is restored.

From the foregoing" it will be observed that due to the operating and release" characteristics .of the relays X, Y and Z all three relays are simultaneously energized for a brief interval of time befiorebeing returned to the unoperated condition. During this period of simultaneous energization the contact'sjX and Y and Z are closed whichcompletes a cireuitto the relay CR-l through the contacts LS7b, L819, Fe, Z and (IR-20L After thevrelay CR- -l is operated the reset operation continues in the same manner as set forth above in section D.

of pushing the deadwood pushbutt-on-134. That is,

pushing'the button 134 en'ergizesthe relay CR-2 through the contacts LS 7b, LS- 9 and CR- la and thereafter the deadwood operation proceeds'in the same manner asdescribed above in Section C. i

Section F-Manual reset operation with 1 automatic cyclingsystem r Included in the" automatic cycling system are .the indicator lights 62 "62 which serve to provide a'visual indication of the ball count and which are operated bythe stepping switch S. These lights'and the stepping switch do not function when the pin setting machine is operated.

without the automatic cycling system. When the cycling system is used, however,i it is necessary that each time the pin setting machine performs a resetoperation that the ball count lamps 62, 62 be extinguished and that the Section G -A utomazic deodwood cycle after first ball with one or more pins left standing in one frame andfwhich ball leave-s standing one or more pins. The manner'inwhich this is accomplished is described below; V

f' Assume that the ballthrown is the first ball, ftherefore before theballis thrown the stepping switch wiper 130 is on the home terminal S and the lamps 62, 62 are all extinguished. The ball in approaching the pin deck thereafter passes through the light beam 68 and, as described above, causes the thyratron 126 to conduct. When thyratron conduction begins a current flows through the coil of the steppingswitch S. Since the stepping switch S is a stepping switch be returnedto its initial or home condition so as to be reset for use in providingla proper ball count for the next player. Therefore, the lrnanner of achieving manual reset with the automatic cycling system on is not exactly 'the same as. the mannerin which it .is achieved with the automatic cycling system off. Withthe switch 136 turned on and the relay B energized, pressing the reset button 13.2. energizes the relay A through the contacts LS-7b, LS.9 and B Energizat 7 tion of the relay A'completes' a circuitto the coil of relay X through the now closed contacts A, andthrough the same contacts A also energizesthe relay 2. As shown the coil of relay X has associated: therewith a'capacitor 142 which 'is connected across the end terminals of the coil and which functions to make the relay X slow-operating and slow-releasing, Operation of the relay closes contacts Z and thereby'Qperates relay Yand completes a holding'circuit to relays Y and Z through the oit normal contact'S of the stepping switch; Relay Y hasassociated therewith a capacitorf144, a resistor 146 and a pair of c-ontactsY and Y which operate tomake'the relay Y slow-operating, and fast-releasing. The capacitor, 144- is however larger than the capacitor142'so that the relayv Y after.

back acting switch this energization ofthe coil doesnot immediately step the wiper 130, but it does close the interrupter c-onta'cts S 'to complete a circuit to the relay X through the closed contacts 2 After the circuit to the relay X is closed the relay operates a short time there- The operation of the relay X opens the contacts X which opens acircuit to the plate ofthe thyratron and thereby extinguishes the latter and de-energizes the coil of the stepping switch S. The de-energization of the stepping switch S causes. it to step the wiper from the home terminal S to the first step terminal S This in turn causesfthe first indicator light 62. to be lighted to represent the passage of the first ball. g

7 Also as the relay'X is operated ,the contacts X are closed tov complete a circuit to the relay Y. A predeterrninedtirne after thisfcircuit is completed'the relay Y operates to open the contacts Y and Y and close the contacts Y and Y Opening of the contactsY breaks the circuit to the relay X and, the X relay being slow-release, the oontacts'associated therewith are switched back to their initial positions a predetermined time after the latter circuit is broken. When this occurs the contacts X,, are closed and the contacts X and X are opened. Closing of the contacts X conditions the thyratr-on for firing upon the passage of the next ball. Opening of the contacts X breaks the circuit to the relay Y, thereby deenergizing the latter relay and returning its contacts back to their initial positions. After this occurs both the relay X and the relay Y are in their initial unoperated conditions and ready for operation in response to the passage of the next ball or other events. It should be noted, however, that before the Y relay is released both the X and Y relays are energized simultaneously for a given amount of time due to the operating and release procedure described. During this period of simultaneous operation the contacts X and Y are simultaneously closed and complete a circuit to the relay CR-Z through the contacts LS-7b and LS 9, F Z and CR Ia. Closing of the relay (JR-2 initiates a deadwood operation which is then carried to completion in the same manner as it is in the description set forth above in Section C.

\If the ball thrown happens to be the second ball rather than the first, the same results will be obtained except that when the stepping switch S is stepped the wiper 130 will be moved from the first step terminal 5, to the second terminal S to light the second indicator lamp 62. It will be observed that the arrangement of the lamps 62, 62 is such that when the wiper 130 is on the second step terminal S both the first and second indicator lamps will be lighted.

Section HAutomatz"c reset cycle after third ball When the automatic cycling system is turned on as a result of the switch 136 being placed in the on position it will operate to automatically command the pin setting machine to perform a reset operation after the throw of a third ball by a player in a given frame.

Before the third ball is thrown the stepping switch Wiper 130 is in engagement with the second step switch terminal S to provide an indication of a ball count of two. Now, when the third ball is thrown the ball again breaks the light beam 68 and causes conduction of the thyratron 126 and energization of the stepping switch coil 5. Energization of the stepping switch coil S closes the interrupter contacts S and thereby completes a circuit to the relay X through the contacts Z When the relay X operates the contacts X are opened and the contacts X are closed. Opening of the contacts X immediately de-energizes the stepping switch coil S, extinguishes the thyratron and steps the wiper 130 from the step terminal S to the step terminal S thereby lighting all three lamps 62, 62 and also energizing the relay Z through the line 1 33. Closing of the contact X completes a circuit to the relay Y which due to its slow-operate characteristic operates after the operation of the relay Z. Operation of the relay Z completes a holding circuit to the relays Y and X through the now closed contacts Z and the off-normal cont-acts S of the stepping switch. Operation of the relay Y opens the contacts Y and thereby breaks the circuit to the relay X which therefore releases a predetermined time after the opening of the contacts Y When the relay X releases the contacts X are closed and this completes a restore circuit to the coil of the stepping switch S through the contacts Z the interrupter contacts S and the olf-normal contacts S The stepping switch S is therefore operated to step the wiper 130 to the home terminal S after which the off-normal contacts S are opened to inhibit any further restoring action. Movement of the wiper 130 to the home position in turn extinguishes all three ball count indicator lamps 62, 62. After the off-norrnal contacts S do open the holding circuit to the relays Y and Z is also opened so that the latter two relays are returned to their initial unoperated conditions. It will also be noted that during the above described operation that all three relays X, Y and Z are operated simultaneously for a given period and during this period of simultaneous operation the contacts X Y and Z are closed to complete a circuit to the relay CR-l through the contacts LS-Tb, LS9, P and (IR-2c. After the relay CR-l is energized a reset operation is performed in the same manner as described above in connection with Section B.

In this regard it should also he noted that the relay Z acts as a means for controlling the restoration of the step ping switch S and that when the relay Z is operated the stepping switch will be restored. It will also be noted that the contacts Z and Z: of the relay Z serve as a cycle selection switch for selectively routing the command signal produced by the simultaneous closing of the contacts X and Y to either the control relay CR-1 to initiate a reset cycle of machine operation or to the control relay CR-Z to initiate a deadwood cycle of machine operation.

Section IAut0matic reset following strike onfirst ball Following a strike on the first ball the automatic cycling system operates to command the pin setting machine to spot a new set of pins on the pin deck in readiness for the next player, and to produce a visual indication of the strike. Actually, in the present instance after the passage of the ball the pin setter is commanded to initiate a dead wood operation and during the course of the deadwood operation when the pin sensing switches determine that no pins have been left standing on the pin deck this information is used to interrupt the deadwood operation and to cause the pin setting machine to thereafter carry out the operation of placing a new set of pins on the pin deck. Since the complete operation is not entirely similar to either the deadwood or the reset operations described above in sections C and D- the operation may be referred to as a modified reset cycle. The manner in which this cycle is performed is described below.

Before the ball is thrown the wiper of the stepping switch is engaged with the home terminal S and none of the ball count lights 62, 62 are lighted. The passage of the ball down the alley breaks the light beam 68 and causes conduction of the thyratron 126 and energization of the step switch coil in the same manner as described above in Section E. This in turn, as also described in Section E, causes operation and release of the relays X and Y in such a manner that for a given period of time both relays are energized simultaneously so as to cause simultaneous closing of contacts X and Y and thereby energization of the relay CR-Z through the contacts LS-7b, LS-9, F Z and CR-lla. Operation of the relays X and Y also causes stepping of the step switch to move the wiper 13d from the home terminal S to the first step terminal S Energization of the relay CR-2 initiates a deadwood operation and as described in Section E causes energization of the pin table drive clutch 52 to set the pin table in motion downwardly toward the pin deck. At this time the pin table is empty of pins and the pin gripping bars 42, 42 are in their open positions. As the pin table reaches its lowermost position the pin gripping bars are closed by the associated actuating mechanism and at the same time the limit switch LS15 is momentarily operated to start movement of the sweep blade. The sweep blade thereafter starts its sweeping motion While the pin table rises from the pin deck, but since all pins have been knocked down the pin table takes with it no pins. As the sweep blade starts its motion, the limit switch LS-13 is operated to maintain the drive clutch N92 energized after the limit switch LS-15 is released by the rising movement of the pin table.

When the pin table reaches or nears its uppermost position, the pin table switch 138 is opened, and at the same time all of the pin sensing switches 56, 56 are also open due to the fact that no pins are held in the pin table. As a result of this a shunt circuit provided by line to the relay P is opened to permit operation of the latter relay, and since at this time the limit switch LS15 is in its initial position the relay P is energized through the closed contacts LS15b. The energization of the relay P closes contacts P P and P and opens contacts P P and P Opening of the contacts P prevents the relay P from being immediately shunted out by the reclosing of the switch 133. Opening of the contacts P removes a shunt circuit provided by the line 152 from the relay W and allows W to operate through the first stepping switch terminal S which now is in engagement with the wiper 136. Closing of the contacts P together with the closing of the contacts W brought about by the energization of therelayW lights the strike indicator lamp 154. Opening of the contacts P breaks the circuit to the relay CR-2.

This in turn opens the contacts CR-2b and since the pin table is now near its uppermost position LS-ltl is open" so that the pin table clutch 52 is de-energized and the pin.

table settles to its'rest position in which it is held by the associated latch. Releasing of the relay CR2 therefore terminates the deadwood cycle before it runs its normal 16 cycling system operates to command the pin setting machine to spot a new set of pins'on the pin deck in readiness for the next player and o provide avisual indication of the spare. v

Before this-ball is thrownthe wiper 130 of the stepping switch is engaged with the first step terminal S and the first ball. count light 62 is lighted. The passage of the ball down the alley'breaks'the light beam 68 and in the same manner as described in the preceding section causes full course. It will be noted that when the cycle is'stopped by the release of CR-2 the pin setting machine is in substantially the same condition as it isjat the beginning of 1 any normal deadwood or reset cycle except that the gripper bars 42, 42 are in their closed positions. I

' Release of the relay CR-2 does not, however, end the modified reset cycle. Energization of the'relay P also causes energization of the'relay A due to the closing of the contacts P This energization of relay A in turn causes the relays X, Y and Z to be operated and released in the same manner as described abovein Section F to provide'for a period of simultaneous energiaation of all the'wiper' of the stepping switch to be stepped-to the second step terminal S lighting both the first and second ball count lamps 62, 62, and also causes energization of the relay CR-Z to initiate a deadwood'cycle. As the 5 pin table is raised from the pin deck, however, none'of the pin sense switches: 56, 56 is closed, due to the absence of pins in the pin table, and thi-s follow ed by the opening, of the switch .138 causes operation ofthe relay P p by opening the shunt circuit provided by line 150, the

contacts LS-13a also being open at this time due to the sweep blade being in motion.- v

i Operation ot the relay P closes contacts P and since 7 the relay W is not now operated, itbeingoperated only three relays and thereby provide'for simultaneous closing.

of the contacts X Y and Z; and as a result of this provides for the momentary energization of relay CR1. The energization of the relay Z also provides for restorawhen the wiper130 engages the firststep terminal S the spare larnp 15-36 is lighted through the, contactsP and W to provide the desired visual indication. Operation e of the relay P also prematurely terminates the deadwood cycleand causes the pinfsetting machine to continue by tion of the stepping switch in thesame manner as de- A scribed in Section F. I g 1 I Y The momentary energization ofCR-l does not have any effect since the open condition of the contacts P prevents the closing of a holding circuit by the closing of the contacts CR-lc -Therefore when either the contacts X Y or Z are reopened relay CR-l is released; The energiza tion of the relay P, however, closes the contacts P -which.

energizes the distributor table clutch 40 provided the dis-' tributor table pin cups are filled with pins and the switch LS5 therefore closed.

When the distributor table does reach its forward position the latch holding the pin table is mechanically released so that the pin table falls onto the distributor table to grasp a new set of pins. reach the distributortable LS-12 is operated to energize CR-3 and, through the contacts, CR-Sb, the pin table.

drive clutch 52. The pin table therefore'starts to rise and as it rises the clutch 52 is held operated; through closed contacts LS .10 and CR-Sa. As the pin table As the pin table does nears its uppermost position LS-7 is operated to start the distributor table moving rearwardly and. LS-10 is operated to stop movement of the pin table, the latter settling.

to its rest position while the distributor table moves rearwardly. When the distributor table nears its'rearward 7 position the limit switch LS-11 is operated to again energize the pin table clutch 52. After the clutch 52 is energized for a short timeLS-ltlrecloses to maintain energization of clutch 52 afterLS-ll reopens. Under the influence of LS-lt) the pin table is thereafter driven down wardly to the pin deck to spot the new set of pins and is.

thereafter returned empty to' its' raised rest position at which time LS-lt) opens and the cycle is ended. In this regard it should be noted that as the pin table reaches the pin deck it operates LS-IS. Closing of the associated contacts LS-15a has no effect anddoes not start a new motion of the sweep blade due to the now open c ondi-.

tion of the contacts CR-2d. Opening of the contacts LS-15b however releases the relay P and closes the contacts P so that after the contacts LS15b recloseithe relay P remains shunted through the now closed'contacts Pg and LS13a. Therefore when the pin table does reach its rest position all relays and other parts of the system are in their initial conditions and ready for the startof a new frame;

Section JAutomatic reset following spare on second, ball Followinga spare on the'second ball the automatic spotting'a new set of pins in the pin deck; in the same manner as described in detail in the preceding section. Section K Operation oy automatic cycling system V i I in response to foul before any other action occurs] Closing the switch 160 in turn energizes the relay F and thereby closes contacts P and P and opens contacts F Assume now that the ball thrown'is the first ball thrown by the player in the instant'frame. The rules of duckpin bowling provide that as arresult of the foul" all of the pins knocked down shall. be respotted and that the ball is lost so thatthe player has two balls'remaining in the .frame.

A As the ball passes theball detector it breaks the light beam-68 and causes operation of the relays X and Y in the same manner as described in--Section G to'provide for stepping of the step switch wiper to the S terminal and also to providefor a period of simultaneous operation of the relays X and Y. during which the contacts X and Y are simultaneously closed; This time however, contacts R are closed and contacts F are open so that the relay CR-I rather than the relay CR-2 is operated as a result 'ofthe closing of X andY Opera.

tion of the relay CPwIcauses the pin'setting machine to undergo a reset operation in the same manner as described in Section D. It will be noted however that this reset operation is initiated and completed without energizing the relay Z which controls the restoration of the stepping switch 5, and that therefore after the completion of the reset operation the stepping switch wiper 130 remains in engagement with the first step terminal S The opening of the foul detector switch may be controlled by a time delay device in the foul detector 158 or may have associated therewith a holding circuit which opens after the'occu'rrence of a given event. In any f case the switch 160 is opened before the machine is conditioned for receiving the next ball.

Assume'no'w that the ball thrown-is the second ball ll 2 thrown by the player in the instant frame. The rules further provide that when a foul occurs on a second ball the pins knocked down shall be counted as though knocked down by the third ball and the ball is lost so that the player is through for the frame.

When this second ball passes the ball detector the X and Y relays are again operated to produce simultaneous closing of the contacts X and Y and stepping of the step switch wiper 130 to the second terminal S Again the simultaneous closing of the contacts X and Y together with the closed contacts F causes energization of the relay CR1 to command a reset operation of pin setting machine. This time however the relay Z is operated due to the closed condition of the contacts P and the engagement of the wiper 130 with the second step switch terminal S As a result of this energization of relay Z the contacts Z are closed and a restore circuit is completed to the coil of the stepping switch which returns the wiper 130 to the home terminal S at which time the relay Z is released.

After the roll of the third ball in any frame, a reset cycle is performed in the manner described in Section H regardless of whether or not a foul has been committed.

The invention claimed is:

I 1. An automatic cycle control system for a bowling pin setting machine including first means operable in response to a command signal for causing said machine to perform a resetting operation and second means operable in response to a command signal for causing said machine to perform a deadwood operation, said automatic cycle control system comprising a counting mechanism movable to various successive positions to provide an indication of the ball count, cyclically operating means adapted when energized by a start signal to undergo a full cycle of operation and during said cycle of operation to produce a command signal normally transmitted to said second means to initiate a deadwood operation, means operable in response to the passage of a ball toward the pin deck associated with said pin setting machine for advancing said counting mechanism one position and for starting said cyclically operating means at such a time that said counting mechanism is advanced before said command signal is produced, another means operable when energized to cause restoration of said counting mechanism and transferral of the command signal produced by said cyclically operating means to said first means to initiate a resetting operation, and means operable in response to the movement of said counting mechanism to the position representative of a third ball for causing operation of said another means to cause restoration of said counting mechanism and transferral of the following command signal to said first means to initiate a resetting operation.

2. An automatic cycle control system for a bowling pin setting machine including first means operable in response to a command signal for causing said machine to perform a resetting operation and second means operable in response to a command signal for causing said machine to perform a deadwood operation, said automatic cycle control system comprising a counting mechanism movable to various successive positions to provide an indication of the ball count, first, second and third relays, means operable in response to the passage of a ball toward the pin deck associated with said pin setting machine for first advancing said counting mechanism one position and for immediately thereafter providing for a period of simultaneous operation of said first and second relays, means operable in response to said simultaneous operation of said first and second relays for issuing a command signal to said second means to initiate the performance of a deadwood operation, means operable in response to operation of said third relay for causing restoration of said counting mechanism and for transferring the command signal issued as a result of the simultaneous operation of said first and second relays to said first means to initiate a resetting operation, and means operable in response to the movement of said counting mechanism to the position representative of a third ball for causing operation of said third relay prior to and during the immediately following period of simultaneous operation of said first and second relays to cause restoration of said counting mechanism and performance of a resetting operation.

3. An automatic cycle control system as defined in claim 2 further characterized by means for detecting a foul and responsive to such detection for transferring the command signal issued as a result of the following simultaneous operation of said first and second relays to said first means to initiate a reset cycle, said foul detecting means being further operable in association with said counting mechanism to cause operation of said third relay and thereby restoration of said counting mechanism in response to the detection of a foul on the second ball thrown by a given player in a frame.

4-. An automatic cycle control system as defined in claim 2 further characterized by means operable during a deadwood operation for sensing the presence or absence of pins left standing by the immediately preceding ball and for providing an electrical signal representative of said presence or absence, means responsive to the signal representative of the absence of standing pins for terminating the deadwood operation, and means operable in response to such termination of the deadwood operation for causing said machine to perform a resetting operation and for energizing said third relay to cause restoration of said counting mechanism.

5. An automatic cycle control system as defined in claim 2 further characterized by means including a manually operable switch for causing simultaneous operation of said first, second and third relays and for thereby causing restoration of said counting mechanism and the initiation of a resetting operation in response to operation of said switch.

6. An automatic cycle control system as defined in claim 2 further characterized by means including a manually operable switch for causing simultaneous operation of said first and second relays and for thereby causing the initiation of a deadwood operation in response to operation of said switch.

7. An automatic cycle control system for a bowling pin setting machine, said control system including means for detecting the passage of a ball through the pin deck associated with said pin setting machine, a ball counting mechanism having a plurality of selectively energizable outputs, means associated with said pin setting machine and selectively operable in response to an initiating command signal to initiate and complete either a deadwood cycle of operation or a resetting cycle of operation of said machine, means operable in response to the detection of a ball by said detecting means for first shifting said ball counting mechanism from one output to another and for thereafter generating a command signal, and means responsive to the condition of energization of the outputs of said ball counting mechanism for conditioning said selectively operable means to cause said command signal to initiate either a deadwood cycle or a resetting cycle with the particular cycle chosen being dependent on said condition of energization of the outputs of said ball counting mechanism.

8. An automatic cycle control system for a bowling pin setting machine, said control system including means for detecting the passage of a ball through the pin deck associated with said pin setting machine, a ball counting steping switch having a wiper and a plurality of output terminals sequentially engageable with said wiper, means associated with said pin setting machine and selectively operable in response to an initiating command signal to initiate and complete either a deadwood cycle of operation or a resetting cycle of operation of said machine, means operable in response to the detection of a ball by said detecting means for first stepping said wiper of said is"v stepping switch from one to another of said output ter minals and for thereafter generating a command signal,

and means responsive'to the position of saidwiper of said stepping switch for conditioning said selectively operable means to cause said command signal to initiate either'a nism one position and for startin said c clicall o erat ing means 'at such a time that said counting mechanism is advanced before said command signal is produced, an-

other means operable when energized to cause restoration deadwood cycle or a' resetting cycleiwith theparticular three of which are active step terminals, said means for conditioning said selectively operable means being operable to cause said command signal to initiate a deadwood cycle when said wiper is positioned on either the first or the second of said. active step terminals and to initiate a resetting cycle when said wiper is positioned on the third of said active step terminals, and means operable after the initiation of said r'esetting cycle for'restoring said wiper of said stepping switch to said home terminal.

10. An' automatic cycle control system for a bowling pin setting machineas'defined in claim 9 further characterized by means operable during a deadwood cycle for sensing the presence or absence'of standing pins, and means operable in response to the detection of the absence of standing pins by said sensing means for interrupting the deadwood cycle, for thereafter causing said machine to follow through with a resetting operation and for restoring the wiper of said stepping switch to said home terminal. I V s i 11.'An automatic cycle control system for a bowling pin setting machine, saidjcontrol system including means for detecting the passage of a ball through the pin deck associated with said pin. setting machine, a ball'counting stepping switch having a wiper and a plurality of output terminals sequentially engageable with said wiper, means said wiper of said stepping switchvfro'm one to another of said output terminalsand also operable in response to the same ball detection to generate a command signal, a

terminals and said command signal generating means for selectively connecting said'comrnand signal to'either one of said two input terminals, and means responsive to the position of the wiper of said stepping switch for controlling the position of said cycle selection switch.

12. An automatic cycle control system for a bowling pin setting machine of the type including a vertically movable pin table and a separate horizontally movable distributor table and further includingfirst means operable in response to a command signal" for causing said machine to perform a resetting operation during which said distributor is moved into and outof, a pin discharge,

position below said pin tableand second means operable in response to a command signal for causing said machine to perform a deadwood operation during which said pin table is twice lowered to and raised from the associated pin deck, said automatic cycle control system comprising a counting mechanism movable to various; successive positions to provide 'an indication of the ball count, cyclically operating means adapted when energized by a start signal to undergo a full cycle of operation and during said cycle of operation to produce a command signal normally transmitted to said second means to initiate a deadwood operation, means operable in response to the passage of a ball toward the pin deck associated with said pin setting machine for advancing said counting mecha position.

of said counting mechanism and transferral of the command signal produced by said cyclically operating means to said first means to initiate a resetting operation, means operable in response to the'movement of'said counting mechanism to the position representative of a third ball for causing operation ofsaid another means to cause res- .toration'of said counting mechanism and transferral of the following command signal to said first means to initiate a resetting operation, means operablesduring the first rising movement of the pin table during a deadwood operation for sensing the presence or absence of pins left a standing by the immediately preceding ball and for provid ing an electrical signal representative of said presence or absence, and means responsive to the signal representative' of the absence of standing pins for terminating said deadwood operation as the pin table reaches the top of said first rising movement and for causing said machine to thereaftertperforrn a resetting operation beginning with movement of said distributor table to its pin discharge 13. In an automatic bowling pin setting machine the combination comprising a pin table located above the pin deck of a bowlingfalleyand :movable vertically between raised andlowered positions, a distributor table adapted to receive and carry a full setof pinsandmovablewith said full set of pins into and out of a pin discharge position located below the raised position of said pin table, a plurality of pairs of pin gripping members carried by said pin table with two gripping members of eachof said pairs being movable relative to each other between relatively open positions at which'they are adapted to fit loosely over the head of abowling pin and relatively closed positions at which they are adapted to grasp and lift the head of a pin positioned therebetween, means for moving said pairs of gripping members in unison so that at any one time all of said pairs are either in their open positions or closed positions and'for changingthe state of said gripping members each time said pin table is lowered to either a said pin deck or to said distributor table, first means'opcycle selection switchconnectedbetween'said two input 1 erable in response to a command signal for causing said pin table then'lowered to said distributor tablewith said gripper members in' an open condition followed by said pin table being thereafter raised, said distributor table thereafter being retracted from beneath 'said pin table and said pin tablethen being lowered and raised tospot a new set of pins on said pin deck, means for detecting ing mechanism having a plurality of selectively energizable outputs, means operable inflresponse to the detection of a ball'by saiddetecting means for shifting said ball counting mechanism from one output to another and for generating a command signal, means responsive to the condition of energiziation of the outputs of said ball counting mechanism for selectively transmitting said command signal to either saidrfirstmeans or said second means to initiate either a deadwood cycle or a reset cycle, means operable during said deadwood, cycle for sensing the numberof pins lifted by said pin table during its first raising movement, and means operable in response to the detection of the absence of pins by said latter sensing means for interrupting said deadwood cycle when said pin table is at the top of its firstraising movement and for thereafter causing said machine to follow through with a 21 resetting operation beginning with movement of said distributor table to said pin discharge position, said latter means including means for moving said gripping members from their closed to their open posit-ions as said distributor table moves to its pin discharge position with the result that said pin table may be lowered directly to said distributor table to grip a new set of pins without first being lowered to and raised from said pin deck to shift the state of said gripping members.

14. In an automatic bowling pin setting machine the combination comprising a pin table located above the pin deck of a bowling alley and movable vertically between raised and lowered positions, a distributor table adapted to receive and carry a full set of pins and movable with said full set of pins into and out of a pin discharge position located below the raised position of said pin table, a plurality of pairs of pin gripping members carried by said pin table with the two gripping members of each of said pairs being movable relative to each other between relatively open positions at which they are adapted to fit loosely over the head of a bowling pin and relatively closed positions at which they are adapted to grasp and lift the head of a pin positioned therebetween, means for moving said pairs of gripping members in unison so that 22 at any one time all of said pairs are either in their open positions or closed positions and for changing the state of said gripping members each time said pin table is lowered to either said pin deck or said distributor table, and means for moving said gripping members from their closed to their open positions as said distributor table moves to its pin discharge position and when said pin table is in its raised position with said gripping members in their closed positions with the result that after said pin table is lowered to said in deck with its ri pin" mem.

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bers open and thereafter raised without taking with it any standing pins said pin table may be lowered directly to said distributor table to grip a new set of pins without first being lowered to and raised from said pin deck to shift the state of said gripping members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,657,929 11/53 Auchincloss et a1 27343 2,670,205 2/54 Sherman 273-43 2,920,891 1/60 Sherman 27343 2,983,510 5/62 Blewitt 273--43 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. 

14. IN AN AUTOMATIC BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINE IN COMBINATION COMPRISING A PIN TABLE LOCATED ABOVE THE PIN DECK OF A BOWLING ALLEY AND MOVABLE VERTICALLY BETWEEN RAISED AND LOWERED POSITIONS, A DISTRIBUTOR TABLE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND CARRY A FULL SET OF PINS AND MOVABLE WITH SAID FULL SET OF PINS INTO AND OUT OF A PIN DISCHARGE POSITION LOCATED BELOW THE RAISED POSITION OF SAID PIN TABLE, A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF PIN GRIPPING MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID PIN TABLE WITH THE TWO GRIPPING MEMBERS EACH OF SAID PAIRS BEING MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER BETWEEN RELATIVELY OPEN POSITIONS AT WHICH THEY ARE ADAPTED TO FIT LOOSELY OVER THE HEAD OF A BOWLING PIN AND RELATIVELY CLOSED POSITIONS AT WHICH THEY ARE ADAPTED TO GRASP AND LIFT THE HEAD OF A PIN POSITIONED THEREBETWEEN, MEANE FOR MOVING SAID PAIRS OF GRIPPING MEMBERS IN UNISON SO THAT AT ANY ONE TIME ALL OF SAID PAIRS ARE EITHER IN UNISON SO THAT POSITIONS OR CLOSED POSITIONS AND FOR CHANGING THE STATE OF SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS EACH TIME SAID PIN IS LOWERED TO EITHER SAID PIN DECK OR SAID DISTRIBUTOR TABLE, AND 